Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

Frontex to help Italy deal with Tunisian migrants

The European Union will launch a joint operation with the Italian authorities in the coming days to deter migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Tunisia and other North African countries. Naval vessels, surveillance aircraft and enhanced radar tracking are likely to be deployed in response to the recent exodus. More than 5,500 migrants – almost all from Tunisia – have landed in recent days on Lampedusa, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia that is Italian territory.

Frontex, the EU’s border agency, launched consultations with member states yesterday (16 February) to identify what equipment and experts they will provide. Two Frontex experts are currently in the Italy to discuss the specifics of the operation with the authorities. This will be the second emergency deployment of EU border guards since November, when 200 officers were sent to patrol Greece’s land border with Turkey.

EU foreign ministers are meeting on Sunday evening (20 February, see Page 4) to discuss the situation in Tunisia and Egypt, where autocratic regimes have been swept away by popular uprisings over the last month. Roberto Maroni, Italy’s interior minister, has called for an emergency summit of EU leaders on the issue.

Burden-sharing

Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs, rejected a claim by Maroni, a member of Italy’s anti-immigrant Lega Nord, that the EU had been slow to respond to the crisis. But the crisis on Lampedusa has reignited a debate about burden-sharing within the EU. The situation has been eased by special flights to the Italian mainland, but other centres across the country are nearing capacity too. A boat with 32 refugees from Egypt was also intercepted off Sicily on Tuesday (15 February).

MEPs said during a debate on Tuesday that member states had to rethink the Dublin II regulation, which puts the burden of examining asylum applications on the country through which migrants enter the EU.

Most Tunisians who reached Italy over the last week are thought to be economic migrants rather than refugees in need of international protection, but the Italian government has pledged that it will examine any asylum applications.

Tunisia has rejected Italian demands that Italian security forces be stationed on Tunisian shores to prevent migrants setting out, but has pledged to step up border security, with Italy providing equipment and funding.

Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, announced during her first visit to Tunisia since the overthrow of President Ben Ali that the Commission will provide €17 million in extra aid to Tunisia, available immediately.

Ashton also said that the European Investment Bank would provide an extra €1 billion in loans over the coming three years to support infrastructure and economic development in the Mediterranean, especially in Tunisia and Egypt. The EIB’s mandate is currently under review, and the European Parliament has suggested that its international role should be boosted.